New Report: Merge Failing Suburbs with Nearby Cities

Merging with a central city may be the key to saving declining suburbs.

NEW YORK, NY — Many “inner-ring” suburbs immediately outside central cities like Chicago, Cincinnati, and St. Louis are stuck in a vicious cycle: as they become poorer, they are unable to finance public services without tax increases, which drive away business, further reducing the tax base. One answer to this decline that has not received enough attention is merging with an adjacent central city. A new Manhattan Institute report by senior fellow Aaron Renn provides data on all contiguous suburbs of select Northeast and Midwest cities and highlights ten suburbs as candidates for merger.

Declining suburbs face specific challenges that make turnaround difficult, including a lack of visibility and accountability, concentrated poverty and racial isolation, lack of housing stock diversity, and a lack of assets around which to revitalize. Given the limits of other intervention options, local and state governments should consider merging ailing suburbs with a stronger nearby central city government. This would provide the benefits of a larger tax base, increased scrutiny by the media and community leaders, and service delivery alignment and expertise.

Renn highlights the following suburbs as possible candidates for merger with their adjacent central cities:

1. East Cleveland, Ohio (Cleveland)
2. Newburgh Heights, Ohio (Cleveland)
3. Lackawanna, New York (Buffalo)
4. Calumet City, Illinois (Chicago)
5. Dolton, Illinois (Chicago)
6. Elmwood Place, Ohio (Cincinnati)
7. Norwood, Ohio (Cincinnati)
8. Ferrelview, Missouri (Kansas City)
9. Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh)
10. Pine Lawn, Missouri (St. Louis)

Click here to read the full report.